The window for the E-Rate Form 471 FY 2010-2011 opened on December 3, 2009 at 12 noon EST (10am MST). It closes at 11:59 pm EST (9:59pm MST) on Thursday, February 11, 2010.
If you haven't yet filed Form 470 for the upcoming year, you need to do it ASAP. If you're filing for anything other than basic telephone service, make sure your technology plan is up-to-date. You must have one "created" that covers the 2010-2011 funding year BEFORE you file Form 470. Make sure you also have proof of that creation date.
Keep in mind that Form 470 has to be posted 28 days before you can file Form 471. With the current window, I'd definitely get the 470 done before the end of December.
Unfortunately, we don't have E-Rate discounts calculated for Montana public libraries. I am unable to access any school lunch data from the OPI site.
You may choose to calculate your own E-Rate discounts this year. If you do so, I recommend you start with the spreadsheet Donna Caban did for you last year which is on the MSL website
http://www.msl.mt.gov/for_librarians/e-rate/Erate_2008_discounts.xls
Save the sheet for your library. That way you have the formulas you need to do the calculations.
Next contact your school district and ask them for their enrollment and school lunch figures for each school in the district for the current school year. I'd ask for them in writing, dated and on some kind of official letterhead. This will help a great deal, should SLD ask you to verify your discount during review.
Remember you CANNOT use the school district's E-Rate discount. Discounts for schools and libraries are calculated differently.
The spreadsheet will calculate your eligible percentage. The final step is to use the discount matrix to find out your E-Rate discount
http://www.universalservice.org/sl/applicants/step05/discount-matrix.aspx
Note that there are two columns, one for rural and another for urban. You'll find the designation for your library on the spreadsheet. Know that only Yellowstone, Cascade and Missoula counties are considered urban.
It's a lot of information, I know. If you have questions or are going to need help with a tech plan or Form 470, please try to get hold of me by December 11.
Thanks and Happy E-Rate!
